Antimicrobial Copper Surfaces for Reducing Hospital-acquired Infection Risk

Proprietary names: CuVerro® antimicrobial copper, CuVerro bactericidal copper, MD-Cu29 antimicrobial copper, MicroGuard™ antimicrobial copper, Revere® antimicrobial copper, Cupron, Cupron Enhanced, Antimicrobial Cupron Enhanced EOS Surface, EOScu, Preventive|Biocidal Surface™, antimicrobial copper CU+®, Arrow HartTM, Century® Copper, CuLean™, CuLorTM, CuSalus®, Schlage®, SafeGripTM

Generic names: antimicrobial copper, antimicrobial copper alloys, copper oxide-impregnated surfaces

Several studies suggest that antimicrobial copper surfaces can reduce the number of bacteria living on surfaces in hospital settings, such as patient rooms.1-9 Based on these findings, some healthcare facilities are installing copper surfaces, hoping to reduce the risk of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) (i.e., infections that patients acquire from the hospital environment when receiving healthcare treatment for other conditions).10,11

Bacteria, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacilli, and Clostridium difficile (C. difficile), are the most common causes of HAIs,12-14 likely because environmental sources of these bacteria are difficult to eliminate and the conditions they cause are difficult to treat.14 Less frequently, viruses, fungi, and parasites cause HAIs.10,12

The following five types of infections constitute more than 85% of HAIs:12

Hospital surfaces serve as a reservoir for pathogenic microbes and may play a key role in the transmission of HAIs.12,14,15 Pathogenic microbes may persist for weeks or even months on common hospital surfaces, such as bedrails, bed trays, television remote controls, call buttons, chairs, doorknobs, push...